Why we should support Buhari’s fight against corruption

Not long ago, the Nigerian Green Passport was considered by many Nigerians as a disadvantaged international travel document for many reasons. The initial treatment meted out by Immigration Officers at points of entry to the holders of the Green Passport would leave a kind of defeatist feeling and a sense of unwelcome. One of the […]

Not long ago, the Nigerian Green Passport was considered by many Nigerians as a disadvantaged international travel document for many reasons. The initial treatment meted out by Immigration Officers at points of entry to the holders of the Green Passport would leave a kind of defeatist feeling and a sense of unwelcome. One of the reasons the Nigerian Green Passport was not respected outside the Country was the perception of the Nigerian and Nigeria as fraudulent and corrupt. 

I have come across Nigerians who were willing to travel outside the country with Ghanaian and Nigerien Passports in other to avoid the profiling and the nasty stereotype treatment Nigerians are subjected to at foreign airports.

But generally, the perception is beginning to change for the better.  The African Continent as a whole is also not spared of this perception of corruption, and unfortunately this is largely a correct assessment. African countries remain underdeveloped because of corrupt leaders and systems. In fact Western countries and donor agencies have come to believe that Africa as a continent is bedevilled by corruption which of course hinders its development. So, it was not surprising when the continent decided to put the fight against corruption as one of its cardinal agenda through the regional body, the African Union (AU). Although the continent has made some significant strides in enacting legal and policy frameworks such as the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC) to address the vice, the desired impact had been lacking as observed by President Muhammadu Buhari in his speech at the recent AU 30th Summit in the Ethiopian Capital, Addis Ababa. 

It was at that summit that Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, was unanimously selected to lead the all important crusade (the fight against corruption) in the continent. 

One may wonder why President Buhari? And the simple answer is why not. As it stands, President Buhari is perhaps the only African Head of State past or present (that spent 2 years and the half on the Seat) without a foreign bank account, a property outside his country, a holiday home outside the country, or an investment in any form outside the shores of his country.

His record of fighting corruption back home in the short period of his administration is the envy of many African citizens. Institutions are being strengthened to fight corruption like never before; those perceived to be untouchable are being touched, and there is no sacred cow. 

Cases of high profile people are still in court being prosecuted, we have seen recovery of looted funds like never before. The government of President Muhammadu Buhari did not stop there as it mustered the political will to also block loopholes otherwise explored by corrupt public officials through the implementation of Treasury Single Account (TSA). 

I see the recent recognition as a great challenge to the President for a renewed commitment to his fight against corruption. In the same vein, just as the benefits accrued with this honor is not for President Buhari alone, so is the challenge of the fight against corruption, it must be owned by the citizens as well. As Nigerians, we must make conscious efforts to support if not lead the fight against this menace. 

Aliyu Abdullahi, a lawyer and a policy analyst, can be reached on twitter via his handle @AliyuAbdullahA